Current velocity, temperature and oil thickness as determinants of the refloating process of stranded oil in the Bohai Sea
Yue Yu
A , Zhixin Qi A , Xinping Yu A , Wenxin Li A , Sinan Fu A and Deqi Xiong A B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Dalian Maritime University, Linghai Road, Dalian, Liaoning Province, 116026, PR China.
B Corresponding author. Email: xiongdq@dlmu.edu.cn
Marine and Freshwater Research 71(8) 1006-1016 https://doi.org/10.1071/MF19126
Submitted: 8 April 2019 Accepted: 13 October 2019 Published: 18 December 2019
Abstract
After oil spill accidents, weathered oil slicks can drift to coastal areas and interact with shoreline substrates. This process has been demonstrated to be the cause of the formation of stranded oil, which has attracted much attention. However, the refloating process of stranded oil when coastal hydrodynamic conditions change has been little investigated. This study evaluated the effects of current velocity, temperature and oil thickness on the refloating process of a simulated oil patty in a flow-through tank. The oil refloating efficiency (ORE) was used to quantitatively examine the degree of refloating. Non-linear fitting results indicated that the ORE increased gradually over time and then plateaued. Both observations and measurements indicated that higher current velocity brought about more oil refloat and enhanced the oil refloating rate. Furthermore, both the mass of refloating oil and the oil refloating rate showed a positive linear correlation with current velocity. The effects of temperature on the oil refloating process were determined by the effects of temperature on oil viscosity. In addition, the ORE at equilibrium increased linearly with increasing oil thickness. An empirical model was introduced and found to be closely consistent with the experimental data. This information is useful in predicting the fate and transport of stranded oil in the Bohai Sea.
Additional keywords: mesoscale tank, oil refloating efficiency, oil spill, refloating rate.
References
Agarwal, A., and Liu, Y. (2015). Remediation technologies for oil-contaminated sediments. Marine Pollution Bulletin 101, 483–490.| Remediation technologies for oil-contaminated sediments.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 26414316PubMed |
Dalyander, P. S., Long, J. W., Plant, N. G., and Thompson, D. M. (2014). Assessing mobility and redistribution patterns of sand and oil agglomerates in the surf zone. Marine Pollution Bulletin 80, 200–209.
| Assessing mobility and redistribution patterns of sand and oil agglomerates in the surf zone.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 24503377PubMed |
Dalyander, P. S., Long, J. W., Plant, N. G., and McLaughlin, M. (2015). Nearshore dynamics of artificial sand and oil agglomerates. Marine Pollution Bulletin 96, 344–355.
| Nearshore dynamics of artificial sand and oil agglomerates.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 25956438PubMed |
Davies, A. G., Soulsby, R. L., and King, H. L. (1988). A numerical model of the combined wave and current bottom boundary layer. Journal of Geophysical Research, D, Atmospheres 93, 491–508.
| A numerical model of the combined wave and current bottom boundary layer.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Del Sontro, T. S., Leifer, I., Luyendyk, B. P., and Broitman, B. R. (2007). Beach tar accumulation, transport mechanisms, and sources of variability at Coal Oil Point, California. Marine Pollution Bulletin 54, 1461–1471.
| Beach tar accumulation, transport mechanisms, and sources of variability at Coal Oil Point, California.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 17631358PubMed |
Delvigne, G. A. L. (2002). Physical appearance of oil in oil-contaminated sediment. Spill Science & Technology Bulletin 8, 55–63.
| Physical appearance of oil in oil-contaminated sediment.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Duan, J., Liu, W., Zhao, X., Han, Y., O’Reilly, S., and Zhao, D. (2018). Study of residual oil in Bay Jimmy sediment 5 years after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill: persistence of sediment retained oil hydrocarbons and effect of dispersants on desorption. The Science of the Total Environment 618, 1244–1253.
| Study of residual oil in Bay Jimmy sediment 5 years after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill: persistence of sediment retained oil hydrocarbons and effect of dispersants on desorption.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 29055591PubMed |
Gabche, C. E., Folack, J., and Yongbi, G. C. (1998). Tar ball levels on some beaches in Cameroon. Marine Pollution Bulletin 36, 535–539.
| Tar ball levels on some beaches in Cameroon.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Gustitus, S. A., John, G. F., and Clement, T. P. (2017). Effects of weathering on the dispersion of crude oil through oil-mineral aggregation. The Science of the Total Environment 587–588, 36–46.
| Effects of weathering on the dispersion of crude oil through oil-mineral aggregation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 28189305PubMed |
Hayworth, J. S., Clement, T. P., and Valentine, J. F. (2011). Deepwater Horizon oil spill impacts on Alabama beaches. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences 15, 3639–3649.
| Deepwater Horizon oil spill impacts on Alabama beaches.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Jonker, M. T. O., Sinke, A. J. C., Brils, J. M., and Koelmans, A. A. (2003). Sorption of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons to oil contaminated sediment? Unresolved complex? Environmental Science & Technology 37, 5197–5203.
| Sorption of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons to oil contaminated sediment? Unresolved complex?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Michel, J., and Hansen, K. A. (2017). Chapter 13. Sunken and submerged oil. In ‘Oil Spill Science and Technology’, 2nd edn. (Ed. M. Fingas.) pp. 731–758. (Gulf Professional Publishing: London, UK.)
Michel, J., Owens, E. H., Zengel, S., Graham, A., Nixon, Z., Allard, T., Holton, W., Reimer, P. D., Lamarche, A., White, M., Rutherford, N., Childs, C., Mauseth, G., Challenger, G., and Taylor, E. (2013). Extent and degree of shoreline oiling: Deepwater Horizon oil spill, Gulf of Mexico, USA. PLoS One 8, e65087.
| Extent and degree of shoreline oiling: Deepwater Horizon oil spill, Gulf of Mexico, USA.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 23776444PubMed |
National Research Council (US) Committee on Oil in the Sea, Inputs, Fates, and Effects (2003). ‘Oil in the Sea III: Inputs, Fates, and Effects.’ (National Academies Press: Washington DC, USA.)
National Standard of the People’s Republic of China (1986). SH/T 6541–1986. Petroleum products–mineral oils – determination of interfacial tension of oil against water – ring method. National Standardization Management Committee of China, Beijing, PR China.
National Standard of the People’s Republic of China (1989). GB/T 11137–1989. Black petroleum products – determination of kinematic viscosity and calculation of dynamic viscosity. State Technology Supervision Administration, Beijing, PR China.
National Standard of the People’s Republic of China (2000). GB/T 1884–2000. Crude petroleum and liquid petroleum products – laboratory determination of density–hydrometer method. State Technology Supervision Administration, Beijing, PR China.
National Standard of the People’s Republic of China (2009). GB/T 17606–2009. Determination of sulfur in crude oil by energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry. National Standardization Management Committee of China, Beijing, PR China.
National Standard of the People’s Republic of China (2010). NB/SH/T 0509–2010. Test method for separation of asphalt into four fractions. National Energy Administration, Beijing, PR China.
Operational Science Advisory Team Gulf Coast Incident Management Team (2011). Summary report for fate and effects of remnant oil in the beach environment. Available at https://www.restorethegulf.gov/sites/default/files/u316/OSAT-2%20Report%20no%20ltr.pdf [Verified 25 September 2019].
Owens, E. H., Taylor, E., and Humphrey, B. (2008). The persistence and character of stranded oil on coarse-sediment beaches. Marine Pollution Bulletin 56, 14–26.
| The persistence and character of stranded oil on coarse-sediment beaches.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 18001804PubMed |
Poot, A., Jonker, M. T., Gillissen, F., and Koelmans, A. A. (2014). Explaining PAH desorption from sediments using Rock Eval analysis. Environmental Pollution 193, 247–253.
| Explaining PAH desorption from sediments using Rock Eval analysis.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 25063912PubMed |
Pope, N. D., Widdows, J., and Brinsley, M. D. (2006). Estimation of bed shear stress using the turbulent kinetic energy approach – a comparison of annular flume and field data. Continental Shelf Research 26, 959–970.
| Estimation of bed shear stress using the turbulent kinetic energy approach – a comparison of annular flume and field data.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Portet-Koltalo, F., Ammami, M. T., Benamar, A., Wang, H., Le Derf, F., and Duclairoir-Poc, C. (2013). Investigation of the release of PAHs from artificially contaminated sediments using cyclolipopeptidic biosurfactants. Journal of Hazardous Materials 261, 593–601.
| Investigation of the release of PAHs from artificially contaminated sediments using cyclolipopeptidic biosurfactants.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 23995556PubMed |
Qi, Z., Zhang, C., Han, J., Gao, Y., and Xiong, D. (2018). A decision model responding to the refuge request from a ship in need of assistance. Marine Policy 95, 294–300.
| A decision model responding to the refuge request from a ship in need of assistance.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Short, J. W., Lindeberg, M. R., Harris, P. M., Maselko, M. J., Pella, J. J., and Rice, S. D. (2004). Estimate of oil persisting on the beaches of Prince William Sound 12 years after the Exxon Valdez oil spill. Environmental Science & Technology 38, 19–25.
| Estimate of oil persisting on the beaches of Prince William Sound 12 years after the Exxon Valdez oil spill.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Stout, S. A., Payne, J. R., Emsbo-Mattingly, S. D., and Baker, G. (2016). Weathering of field-collected floating and stranded Macondo oils during and shortly after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Marine Pollution Bulletin 105, 7–22.
| Weathering of field-collected floating and stranded Macondo oils during and shortly after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 26936118PubMed |
van Noort, P. C. M., Cornelissen, G., ten Hulscher, T. E. M., Vrind, B. A., Rigterink, H., and Belfroid, A. (2003). Slow and very slow desorption of organic compounds from sediment: influence of sorbate planarity. Water Research 37, 2317–2322.
| Slow and very slow desorption of organic compounds from sediment: influence of sorbate planarity.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Warnock, A. M., Hagen, S. C., and Passeri, D. L. (2015). Marine tar residues: a review. Water, Air, and Soil Pollution 226, 68–72.
| Marine tar residues: a review.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 25741050PubMed |
Wei, H., Hainbucher, D., Pohlmann, T., Feng, S., and Suendermann, J. (2004). Tidal-induced Lagrangian and Eulerian mean circulation in the Bohai Sea. Journal of Marine Systems 44, 141–151.
| Tidal-induced Lagrangian and Eulerian mean circulation in the Bohai Sea.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Yang, X. H., Garnier, P., Wang, S. Z., Bergheaud, V., Huang, X. F., and Qiu, R. L. (2014). PAHs sorption and desorption on soil influenced by pine needle litter-derived dissolved organic matter. Pedosphere 24, 575–584.
| PAHs sorption and desorption on soil influenced by pine needle litter-derived dissolved organic matter.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Yu, Y., Qi, Z., Li, W., Fu, S., Yu, X., and Xiong, D. (2019). Effects of physical parameters and chemical dispersant on the formation of oil-particle aggregates (OPAs) in marine environments. Marine Pollution Bulletin 148, 66–74.
| Effects of physical parameters and chemical dispersant on the formation of oil-particle aggregates (OPAs) in marine environments.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 31422305PubMed |
Yuan, L., Han, L., Bo, W., Chen, H., Gao, W., and Chen, B. (2017). Simulated oil release from oil-contaminated marine sediment in the Bohai Sea, China. Marine Pollution Bulletin 118, 79–84.
| Simulated oil release from oil-contaminated marine sediment in the Bohai Sea, China.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 28222865PubMed |
